Acetylene-gas generator.



BATBNTED MAY 15. 1906.

c. w. max.- AGBTYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 23, 1900.

INVENTOR -E\/VITNESSIES 35 once being "UNITED STAllhl S PA'llfiNTorrron.

CHARLES W-. BECK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY

ME'NTS, TO ELECTROLITE GAS LAMP COMPANY, OF NEW MnsivE ASSIGN- YORK, N.Y.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Batentecl May 15, 1906.

To aZZ whom it 1110, concern.-

Be it known that citizen of the United States, residing at New York,county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Acetylene-Generators, of-

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in acetylene-generators, andrefers more spe- IO cifically to an improved carbid-feeding mechinsm forfeeding pulverulent or broken car- The object of the invention is toprovide a simple mechanism of the character referred to so constructedand arranged that the liability of its becoming clogged by reason ofincrustation of carbid thereon or becoming jammed by lumps of carbid, soas to interfere with its free and regular operation, will be reduced toa minimum.

A further object of the invention is to so construct and arrange theparts as to protect the carbid passing through the feeding mechanismfrom damp air and steam until it has been delivered to 'thegenerating-chamber, thereby preventing the generation of gas during itstransit through the feeding mechanism, and also obviating..aftergeneration in case the feeding operation be interrupted.

To the above ends the invention consists in the matters hereinafterdescribed, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, andthe same will be readily underj stood from the following description,referhad to the accompanying drawings, in whichigure 1 is an axialvertical sectional view of a generator and accompanying gasometerequipped with my invention. Fig. 2 is a .0 fragmentary side elevation ofthe side of the gasometer adjacent to the generator, taken on line 2 2of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the carbid-feedingmechanism proper, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and looking downwardly.Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a modified. form of feed-table.Referring to said drawings, 1 designates as a whole a generator, whichmay be of any suitable or preferred construction, comprising an uppercarbid-hopper'2 and a lower waterchamber 3, the hopper being arranged at.some distance above the normal level of water within the reservoir, soasto provide an intervening space, which constitutes the 1, CHARLES W.BECK, a generator space or chamber 4 of the generator. The lower wall ofthe carbid-hopper extends laterally from the feed-opening and inclinesoutward and upward, it being adapted to direct the carbid toward. thefeedopen- *ing and to sustain a greater part of the weight lower marginsurrounds the feed mechanism,

of the carbid.

Describing now more particularly the feeding mechanism constituting thepresent invention, the lower part of the carbid-hopper is provided witha discharge-opening 5, the of which, 6, is arranged horizontally, asindicated clearly in Fig. 1. At a short distance below thedischarge-opening of the hopper is arranged a horizontally-dis.- posedfeedtable 7, suitably supported so as to be capable of being rotatedintermittently and located at such distance below the end of the hopperthat the carbid falling from the hopper upon said table will bank up soas to close the discharge-opening and not. flow over the edges of thetable while the latter remains stationary. The diameter of thefeed-table and its relation to the dischargeopening of the hopper aresuch that while the table remains stationary the carbid will not flowover the edges of the latter; but, as above described, when the table isrotated the movement of the table relatively to the fixed end of thehopper will cause the carbid to gradually move radially outward and bedischarged from the table.

In order to positively discharge the carbid from the table. and at thesame time insure its discharge at a particular point relatively to thestationary parts ofthe mechanism, 1. provide a wiper or deflector8,,preferably and as shown herein consisting of a blade arrangedvertically with its lower edge extend ing from the periphery of thetable obliquely inward a distance somewhat less than one half of thediameter of the table and in a direction inclined forwardly andoutwardly with reference to a'radius of the feed'table and itsdirection. of movement, so as to operate to brush the carbidresting nearthe periphery of the table outwardly and discharge it from the edge ofthe latter. cohv eniently and as shown herein supported by means of anarm 9, having one end attached to the interior of a housing 10, whichSaid wiper 1s and its oppo- ICC site end formed integrally with theouter end of the blade, as indicated clearly in the drawmgs.

' In order that the damp vapors and steam caused by generation may notreach the carbid passing through the feed mehanism or that within thehopper through the feedopening, I provide the housing 10, inclosing thefeed mechanism, and provide said housing with a trap-door through whichthe carbid discharged from the feed-table is free to escape, Saidhousing preferably and as shown herein consists of a cylindricvertically-disposed inclosing wall 10, having its upper end suitablyunited with the conical lower end of the carbid-hopper concentric withthe discharge-opening thereof and provided at its lower end at a pointsome distance below the feed-table with an inclined and conical end wall1, through which is formed at its lowermost point and vertically beneaththe Wiper 8 a discharge-opening 12. 14 designates ahorizontally-arranged trap-door which is arran ed to control thedischarge-opening 12. Said trap-door is pivotally mounted so as to befree to open downwardly, being conveniently provided with asupporting-arm 15, pivotally connected at a point between its ends, asat 16, with a suitable bracket or support 17 upon the side wall of thehousing and provided with a sliding weight 18, whereby the quantity ofcarbid necessary to open said door may .be regulated.

As a preferred means of rotatably supporting thefeed-table and impartingan intermittent motion thereto I provide a supportingshaft 19, arrangedI to extend upwardly through the bottom wall of the water-reservoir andengaged at its upper end with the lower side of the carbid-table at thecenter of the latter, such connection being convenientlyformed by meansof a socket 21, for-med on the under side of the table, within which theu per end of the shaft extends a'nd is's'ecure by' means of a cross-pin22. In'order tQ-form a suitable seal around the shaft 19 and at the sametime provide a suitable hearing within which the shaft is supported inits vertical position, I provide a sleeve 23, having its lower endthreaded within the opening in the bottom wall 20 of the reservoir andwithin a reinforcing casting 24, mounted upon the lower side of saidwallconcentric with said I opening and arranged to extend thence upwardly toa point well above the normal level of the liquid within said reservoir.

Upon the shaft 19 ismounted. a bell w hich is arranged to telescope over.the

. sleeve 23, the lower end of the bell terminatabo e reservom,v 7 I Inorder to afford access to the feed mech-,

anis'm, the upper member of the generator. or

but adjacent to the bottom of the 'hopperismade to separate from\thelower member .on' a line J extending thfqughzthe employed for-impartingto the feed-table an housing 10, as indicated at 26, the parts beingconveniently united by means of screws or bolts 26, as shown clearly inthe drawings.

Any suitable or preferred means may be intermittent rotary movementas,for example, in the case of comparatively large generators, from whichthe gas is conveyed to a suitable gasonieter or reservoir, the feedtablemay be rotated from time to time manually by means of any suitablemechanism. Preferably and as shown herein, however, means are providedwhereby said table is rotated intermittently and automatically, thefrequency of movement being determined by the consumption of gasgenerated. To this end the lower end of the shaft 19 is provided with abevel-gear 27, with which intermeshes a second bevel-gear 28, mountedupon a shaft 29, arranged to extend outwardly through a suitable bearing30 and through the side wall of the generator and engaging a secondbearing 31, mounted upon the-exterior of a gasometer, (designated asawhole 32.) Said gasometer 32 is of a usual type, comprising a lowerreceptacle or member 33 and an upper member or bell 34, telescopingwithin said lower member and having its lower end immersed in liquid, asusual, a gas-pipe 35 afford' ing communication between the upper part ofthe generating-chamber of the generator and the interior of the bell, asindicated clearly in the drawings. Upon the shaft 29, adjacent to thegasometer, is mounted a sprocketwheel 36, and at a point some distanceabovesaid sprocket is mounted a second sprocket 37. 38 designates asprocket-belt arranged upon said sprockets, and 39 designates aratchet-plungermounted to reciprocate vertically in suitable guides orsupports 40 41, adjacent to and arallel with one side of said belt, asbest indicated in Fig. 2.

Upon said plunger is mounted a pawl or hook 42, which" wardly to permitthe pawl to slide over thechain-links as the gasometer is raised, whileits under surface 1s horizontal, so that when the gasometer descends theend of the pawl will engage'one of the chain-links and carry the en agedpart of the chain downward.

43 esignates a bar mounted rigidly upon the bell of theg'asometer andhaving its lower end arranged to extend in alinement with'the upper endof the plunger 39 and so located with reference to the bell that whenthe latter is approaching the lower limit of its movement said bar willengage the plunger and-force the latter downwardly, thereby-- rotatingthe shaft 29 and, through the connections hereinbefore described,rotating the feed-table. The plunger 39 is returned and The hopper 2 isprovided with a suitable inlet-aperture 45, closed by a screw-block 46,

' at the lower side as usual, and likewise the reservoir or generatorbody 3 is provided with a supply-pipe 47 and a discharge-pipe by asuitable stop-cock, as 49 and 50, respectively. herein the inlet-pipe 47is arran ed to communicate with the lower part of t e reservoir and ismade of relatively large diameter and extended vertically upward to apoint well above the highest level of liquid within the reservoir, theobject of this construction being to enable the operator to tell byinspection abouthow much liquid is contained in the reservoir. As aprotection against overfilling the supply-pipe is provided with anoverflowaperture 51, located. at a point coincident with the hi hestlevel to which the reservoir should be filled. The bottom of thereservoir 20 is inclined and the outlet-pipe 48 located thereof, so thatthe residue and sludge may be readily removed, and in this connection itis to be noted that should bottom,

the sludge have a tendency to accumulate on the floor of the reservoirit may be readily flushed off by leaving both inlet and outlet pipesopen and running water through the reservoir, it being noted that theinlet-pipe discharges near the upper side of the inclined so that thecourse of the liquid would be directly across the bottom of thereservoir. The gasometer is provided with the usual outlet gas-pipe 52,conveniently ar'' ranged to extend up through the bottom wall, andterminates at its inner end at a point well above the level of thesealing liquid therein.

The operation of the apparatus constructedas thus described is probablyentirely obvious, but may be briefly recapitulated as follows: Thehopperand reservoir having been'suitably charged with carbid and water,respectively, the apparatus may be brought into operation initially byrotating the feed table in any suitable manner as, for example,manually-imtil a first supply of gas is formed. As the feed-tablerotates c'arbid will be discharged therefrom bythe wiper and will fallupon the trap-door 14,.accumulating thereon until its weight overcomesthe counterbalance-weight, whereupon the car bid 'will be dumped and thetrap-door again closed. The carbid falling withinthe Water generates asupply of gas, which, filling the generatin chamber, passes through thepipe 35 to the ell of the gasometer and raises the latter. After thefirst supply of gas has been 48, each controlled In the preferredconstruction shown formed the generation becomes automatic. As the gasis consumed. and the bell falls the lower end of the plunger andoperates that mechanism in the manner hereinbefore described, thusrepeating the operation of feeding carbid to the liqui ,it being obviousthat as soon as a second supply of carbid is dumped the fresh supply ofgas generated will fill and lift the bell and permit the ratchet-plungerto rise in roadiness to repeat the-feeding operation.

It will of course be understood that there are numerous Well-known waysin which the feed mechanism proper may be operated, either automaticallyor intermittently, at will. In Fig. 4 I have shown an improved form offeed-table more particularly adapted for use in a feed mechanismconstructed generally like that described, but in which the wiper isomitted. and in which the lower end wall of the feed-mechanism housingeither omitted or provided with a suitable opening to permit the assageof the carbid flowing over the perip cry of the table throughout itsentire circumference. Said. modification consists in providing thefeed-table 53 with a conical upper side portion 54, provided withspirally-arran ed ribs 55, which are adapted to act upon tTiepulverulent carbid to force the latter gradually radially outward, so asto discharge it over. the periphery of the table at all points thereof.It will be obviousthat the weight of the accumulated carbid resting uponthe table and held from rotation so far as its main body is concerned byreason of its continuity with the body of carbid within the hopper willbe acted upon by the spirallyflanged upper surface of the table screwfashion, and the carbid thus discharged in an approximately positivemanner. This construction has certain advantages over thepreviously-described construction, among which may be mentioned that byreason of the. omission of the wiper or deflecting-plate there is lessliability of the feed mechanism becoming clogged'by the presence of alump or several lumps forming a wedge of carbid. A feed-table of thistype may obviously be employed in conjunction with .a generator likethat herein described, it being obvious that the inclined lower wall 11of the housing which surrounds the feed-table will act to di rect thecarbid discharged. from the periphery of the feed-table to thedischargeaperture 12 thereof and: that the'operation will therefore besubstantially the same as that of the first-described. construction.

VVhile I have herein shown and. described what I deem to be a preferred.embodiment of my invention, yet it will be obvious that the detailsthereof may be modified to. some extent without departing from theinvention, and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the precisedetails shown except as they are made the subject of specific claims.

bar 43 engages the ratchet- I claim as my invention 1. A carbid-feedin gmechanism for feedlng loose carbid, comprising a suitable hopper or'source of carbid-supply formed with a distently, substantially asdescribed.

' 2. A carbid-feeding mechanism for feeding loose carbid comprising acarbid-hopper pro videdwith. a conical lower end portion terminating ina circular horizontally-arranged deed-aperture, a circularhorizontally-disposed feed-table su ported a short'distance below thelower en ofsaid aperture, a stationary wiper supported above said tableso as to brush the carbid therefrom as the latter is rotated, a housingmounted upon the lower side of the hopper inclosin the feed mechanismand provided in its Iower side at a point vertically beneath thedischargepoint of the teed-table with an opening and a pivoted trap-doorclosing said opening, an

adjustable weight arranged to regulate theopening of said door, andmeans for rotating said feed-table intermittently, substantially asdescribed. v

3. In an acetylenegenerator, the combination of an upper hopper providedwith a feedopening, a horizontally-disposed feed-table mounted belowsaid feed-opening and coopcrating with the latter to control the flowing said shaft without, changing its angular of carbid from the hopper,a liquid-reservoir below said feed mechanism, and means for supportingand operating said feed-table;

comprising a shaft arranged to rise vertically through the bottom wallof said liquid-reservoir and engaging and supportin said table at itsupper end, and aliquid sea surround.-

relation or position with res eat to the Wall of the feed-opening of thecar id-holder, sub stantially as described.

4. In an acetylene-generator, thecombination of a suitable hopper orsource of carbidsupply formed with a discharge-opening, a horizontalfeed-table located at a short distance below said discharge-o ening, awiper mounted above said feed-tab e in position'to brush the carbidtherefrom as the table is rotated, a yieldably-mounted support uponwhich the carbid is'discharge d from the feed-- table and from which itis dumped in accumulated quantities, and mechanism operatedautomatically by the volume -of gas generated, operating to rotate saidfeed-table intermittently, substantially as described. 5. In anacetylene-generator, the combina tion ofa suitable hopper or source ofcarbiddumped in accumulated quantities, substantially as described.

6. In an acetylene-generator, the combination of a suitable hopper orsource of carbidsupply formed with a dischar e-opening, a

short distancebelow said discharge-opening, a casing below saidfeed-table having'inclined side walls adapted to direct the carbiddischarged from the feed-opening to the lowest art of said casing, adischarge-opening being ibrmed through said casing at its lowest point,and a downWardly-openin pivotallymounted, trap-door provided wit acounterbalance-arm, and a Weight adjustably mounted uponsaidcounterbalance-arm, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In combination with anacetylene-gen erator, provided ,with' anintermittently-op- .hOI'lZOIltfil rotaryfeed-table ocated at a eratedfeed mechanism, means for actuating said feed mechanism controlled bythe consumption of gas generated, comprising a gasometer provided with arising and falling bell, an operating-arm carried by said 'bell, a

spring-returned plunger adapted to be en-' gaged by said operatin -armduring the descent of the bell, a sproc et-belt mounted ad-' jacenttosaid spring-returned plunger, having one of its laps parallel with thepath of movement of the plunger, a pawl-hook upon and operate the eltduring the descent of the plun er and to slide past the links of thebelt, ratc et fashion, during its return movemerit, and a driving shaftactuated by -said sprocketbelt and operatively connected,

with the feed. mechanism, substantially as described' 1 I v 8. Acarbid-feed mechanism for feeding lump-carbid comprising a carbidhopperprosaid plunger ada ted to positively engage vided with adownwardinclined lower portion adapted I to direct theca'rbid toward afeed-aperture and to sustain the greater. art of the weight of thecarbid, a horizontal eedtable supported a short distance below'thefeed-aperture, a wiper sup orted'above said table so as to brush the carid from the table, I H as the latter'is rotated, a gas-tight tankinclosing the table and the wiper and adapted to contain theliquid-supply,and means actuated by variations in gas-pressure to rotatesaid table.

9. An acetylenagene'rator comprising a liquid-holder, vafcarbic l holderhaving a'feed with a feed-opening, and a twoopening, a two-partfeedmechanism located below the feed-opening so that a mass of carbidwill extend from the feed mechanism to the feed-opening, the parts ofthe feed mechanism being a fixed distance from the feedopening, meansactuated by variations in gas-pressure for operating the feed mechanismwithout varying the distance between the members of the feed mechanismand the feed-opening.

10. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a liquid-holder, acarbidholder above the liquid-holder and provided art feed mechanismconsisting of a support slow the feed-opening and adapted to sustain amass of carbid below the wall of the feed-opening, a stationary devicebetween the support and thefeed-opening, and means operated byvariations in the gas-pressure for actuating the feed mechanism withoutchanging the angular position of said support with respect to the wallof the feed-opening.

, 11. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of a liquid-holder,a carbidholder above the liquid-holder and provided with a feed-opening,and a two-part feed mechanism consisting feed-opening and adapted tosustain a mass of carbid below the Wall of the feed-opening, a devicebetween the table and the feed-opengas-pressure for actuating one of theparts of the feed device to cause the carbid to be moved from thesupport.

12. In an acetylene-generator, the combination of a liquid-holder, acarbid-holder above the liquid-holder and provided with a feed-opening,a rotatable feed-table below said feed-opening, a non-rotary feed devicebetween the feed-table and the feed-opening, and means actuated by thevariations in gaspressure for rotating the feed-table.

13. In an acet' lene-generator the combination, of a suitab e ho per orsource ofcarbidsupply provided .wit a suitable discharge, a horizontalfeed-table located at a short distance below said discharge, ayieldinglymounted support below the table and adapted to receivethecarbid therefrom and which is adapted to discharge the carbid inqffanti;

, ties into the generatingchamber, and a mech y whereby the weight ofthe anism operated automaticallyby gas-pressure to rotate saidfeed-table intermittently, and a wiper arranged between the feed-tableand the carbid-discharge and adapted to en-.

gage the carbid and cause it to fall from the table.

14. In an acetylene-generator the combination', of a ho per formed witha contracted lower end and provided with a discharge-opening at thebottom of said contracted portion, mass of carbidwill not be sup ort dby the feed-table, a horizontal feed-ta 1e ,ocated a suitable distancebeof a table below the and means operated by variations in the.

low said discharge, said feed-tablebeing larger in diameter than thedischarge-opening, whereby the carbid will not flow while the table isstationary but will be discharged over the edge of the table when thesame is rotated, and a mechanism operated by variations in gas-pressureto intermittently rotate said table without altering its distance fromthe discharge-opening, whereby the carbid-passage will be at all timesopen and unobstructed and of the same dimensions.

15. In an acetylene-generator the combination, of a hopper provided witha dischargeopening at its bottom, a horizontal feed-table located asuitable distance below said discharge, said feed-table being larger indiameter thanthe discharge-opening whereby the carbid will not flow whenthe table is stationary, but will be discharged over the edges of thetable when the same is rotated, and a mechanism operated by variationsin gas pressure to intermittently rotate said table without causing itto approach the dischargeopening, whereby the path of the carbid fromthe hopper to the generating-chamber will be at all times open andunobstructed and of the same dimensions.

1 16. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a gas-tight liquid-holderand generating-tank, a carbid-holder above the liquid-holder andprovided with a feed-opening in its bottom adapted to discharge carbidinto the liquidholder, a two-part feed mechanism consisting of a supportdirectly below the feed-opening and adapted to sustain a mass of carbidbelow the wall of the feed-opening, and a feed device between the supopening, a gas-holder, an means operated by variations in the volume ofgas in the gasholder for operating one of the parts of the feed deviceto cause carbid to drop from thesupport into the liquid-holder togenerate gas.

17. An acetylene-generator comprising a gas-holder, a gas-tightliquid-holder, a carbidholder above the liquidwholder and provided witha feed-opening, said carbid-holder being constructed todischargethecarbid in a continuous stream, means below thedischargeopening for sustaining a loose mass of carbid below and outsidethe carbid-holder but in contact with the carbid in the carbid-holder,

and means forintermittently discharging a portionv of said loose massinto the liquidholder, said meansbeing operated automaticall byvariations in volume of gas in the gasho der, wherebythe continuity ofthe streamof carbid from the carbid-holder is maintained.

ort and the feed- 18. An acetylene-generator comprising a gas-holder, agas-tight liquidholder, a carbidholder above the liquid-holder with afeed-opening, said carbid-hol er being constructedto discharge thecarbid in a continuous stream, a table below the discharge opening forsustaining a and rovided loose mass of carbid 1 o below and outside thecarbid-holder but in contact with the means for disch carbid in thearging a portion of said loose oarbid-holder,

ally by Variations gas-holder for rotating said table, substant in thevolume of gas in the tially as and for the purpose set forth.

19. A IO bid-holder above n acetylene-gas generator comprising agas-holder, a gas-tight liquid-holder, a carthe liquid-holder and. pro-Vided with a feed-opening in its bottom and adapted to automaticallydischarge the carbid, feed mechanism consisting of two mem- I 5 bers,one member being a table supported below the feed-opening at a ointwhere it will sustain a loose mass of car id below the feedopening andthe other member being a feed device located between the table and thefeedopening and adapted to engage into the loose mass of carbid, andmeans f he members whereby the oarbid will be CHARLES W. BECK.

Witnesses (I. J. KINTNER, W. W. HARRIs.

